119 Inmates Escape Suleja Custodial Centre After Rainstorm Destroys Wall

One hundred and nineteen inmates escaped from the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Suleja, Niger State, after heavy rainfall destroyed a section of the facility’s perimeter wall, in one of the largest custodial escapes recorded in Nigeria in recent years.

The Nigerian Correctional Service confirmed the incident in a statement, saying the escape occurred after hours of sustained downpour weakened and eventually collapsed a portion of the wall, creating an opening through which the inmates fled. Correctional officers raised the alarm immediately and contacted the police, military, and other security agencies to launch a pursuit and recapture operation.

Controller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Sylvester Nwakuche, said the service deeply regretted the incident and had activated emergency protocols to recover the escaped inmates. ‘We are working with all security agencies to ensure the recapture of these individuals and the immediate restoration of the facility,’ Nwakuche said in the official statement.

Manhunt Launched Across Niger State
Security forces launched a wide manhunt across Suleja and its surrounding communities, with roadblocks mounted on major routes out of the town. The Police, Army, Civil Defence Corps, and local vigilante groups were mobilised to participate in the search. Officials said several of the escapees had already been recaptured within hours of the breakout, though the exact number of those still at large had not been confirmed at the time of this report.

However, the mass escape has raised serious questions about the state of infrastructure at Nigerian custodial facilities, many of which have long been criticised for overcrowding and structural deterioration. Furthermore, civil rights groups said the incident pointed to the urgent need for increased investment in correctional facility maintenance and renovation across the country.

Meanwhile, the Correctional Service separately said it was pushing for wider adoption of non-custodial sentencing as a tool for prison decongestion. Spokesperson Duza Adamu said non-custodial measures such as community service, probation, and parole could significantly reduce prison populations and ease pressure on aging facilities. Notably, overcrowding at the Suleja centre had been flagged by legal aid groups as a concern before the incident. Consequently, the mass escape is expected to accelerate conversations about custodial reform in the National Assembly.

Residents Urged to Report Sightings
Police in Niger State urged residents to report any sightings of unfamiliar individuals in their communities and to avoid harbouring escaped inmates. In addition, the Correctional Service said it would conduct a thorough structural assessment of the Suleja facility and other centres across the country to identify and address similar vulnerabilities before another incident could occur. As a result, the federal government faces pressure to urgently release funds for the repair and upgrading of Nigeria’s custodial infrastructure.